POLICE CORRUPTION TRIAL WITNESS ONCE ADMITTED ATTACKING COP

A former pot dealer who claims he was savagely beaten by Toronto drug
squad officers 14 years ago admits he once formally agreed that he
started the incident by attacking an officer.

But Christopher Quigley, 46, denied at a police corruption trial
Friday that everything he admitted to when he pleaded guilty to
marijuana possession 14 years ago was true.

According to facts read out in court in 1998, Quigley "became enraged
and attacked" an officer, striking him in the chest, which became sore and red.

It's an absolute lie," Quigley told an Ontario Superior Court jury Friday.

Patrick Ducharme, lawyer for former drug squad officer Ned Maodus,
asked Quigley if the guilty plea was also an absolute lie.

Correct," Quigley said, adding that anything on a "piece of paper"
that said he struck an officer is untrue.

I went along with a story that was orchestrated by my lawyer, yes," he said.

Quigley was in his third day of cross-examination at the trial of
Maodus, 48, John Schertzer, 54, Steve Correia, 44, Joseph Miched, 53,
and Raymond Pollard, 47.

The former Team 3 Central Field Command drug squad officers
collectively face 29 charges, laid in January 2004, including attempt
to obstruct justice, perjury, assault and extortion related to events
between 1997 and 2002.

Quigley has testified that in the spring of 1998 he was kicked,
punched and choked by Maodus and another former officer, Richard
Benoit, after their boss, Schertzer, slapped him on the face.

But Ducharme suggested Friday that Benoit will testify Quigley was
punching the walls and door of a police interview room after his
arrest and had to be warned to settle down.

That's an absolute lie," Quigley replied.

Ducharme said Benoit will likely testify that when he told Quigley
police had searched his mother's house, he shouted: "You leave my
mother alone" and lunged at him.

That's an absolute lie," Quigley said.

You tried to punch him in the face and you missed and hit his chest,"
and a brawl ensued as the officer struggled to subdue him, Ducharme suggested.

Afterward, Ducharme said, Quigley told Benoit: "That was a good fight."

You are doing a good job of fabricating a lie," Quigley replied.

Ducharme also suggested that Quigley told his mother shortly after
the incident that police grabbed him to arrest him and he put up a fight.

I don't believe I said that," Quigley replied.

The trial continues Wednesday.